Automobile lock



'FEb. 15,

1,617,840 F. M. FURBER AUTOMOBILE LOCK Filed Dec. 11, 1924 i F 2 1? O {gJ v l 16 I I? 1a I I '1 16 j [7222622 Zak Patented Feb. 15. 1927.

UNITED STATES innate PATENT orr cs.

FREDERICK M. FURBER, OF REVERE, MASSACHUSE'ITS; SAMUEL It. CUTLER, OF

REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS, ADMINISTRATOR 0F SAID FURBER, DECEASED.

AUTOMOBILE Loon.

Application filed December 11, 1524. Seria1Nof755A62.

This invention relates to mechanisms for locking'automobiles againsttheft, and is especially concerned with a lock for the steeringmechanism of a Ford car. I

It is the chief object of the invention to devise a lock which willeffectually prevent the operation of the steering mechanism, which canbe manufactured economically, and which can be installed quickly'andeasily and with only ordinary tools.

The nature of the invention will be readi ly understood from thefollowing descrip tion when read in connection with the ac companyingdrawings, and the novel fea tures will be particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings, 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a looking mechanism embodying thisinvention, certain of the parts being broken away to disclose theconstruction more clearly;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a locking sleeve which forms a part ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View showing the locking bolt and adjacentparts.

In the drawings the steering column of a Ford car is shown at 2, and thestationary casing secured to the upper end of this column is indicatedat 3. This casing houses a planetary gearing which is connected with thesteering wheel shaft 4: that projects through the top of the casing. Thesteering wheel is keyed to this shaft and is normally held in itsoperative position by means of a nut 5 threaded on the upper end of theshaft 4. In order to permit access to the gearing in the housing '3, thetop 6 of this housing is made removable. That is, it is screw threadedto the lower part 3 of the housing. All of the construction so fardescribed. is that found in the well known Ford car.

In installing the locking mechanism pro vided. by this invention, thesteering wheel and the top 6 are removed. A locking sleeve 7 is thenslipped over the lower part 3 of the casing and is secured rigidly tothis casing by means of a series of cup point set screws 8, the sleevebeing made of such dimensions as to comfortably accommodate the casing3. The top 6 is next replaced its normal position, the upper part ofthesleeve being cut away or counter-bored to receive the top,

A cap 9 is next slipped over the sleeve'7,

this cap having an integral key or lug to it in the key-way 10 in theshaft i so that the cap is compelledto rotate with this shaft. Theinternal diameter of the eapis only slightly greater than the externaldiameter of the sleeve 7 so that asuitable clearance is provided betweenthese parts, and the cap is of such dimensions that it encloses thesleeve and the housing 3 and effectually prevents access to the setscrews 8. Slidably mounted in the cap 9 isa bolt 12, Fig. 3, having ahead 13 against the under surface of which two spiral springs 14: hear,these springs serving to hold the bolt 12 normally in an elevated orretracted position. This head 13 slides in the lower part of a borewhich is formed in a boss 14 integral with the cap 9. 'A lock 15 of therevolving barrel or pin tumbler type is mount- 'ed in this bore and issecured therein by a set screw 16, thehead of which is ground off flushwith the outer surface 'of the cap 9. Projecting from the lower end ofthe barrel of the lock is a lug or finger 16 which engages the upperinclined surface of the bolt head 13. Consequently, when the key 17 isturned to rotate the barrel of the lock in the proper direction, thefinger 16 will depress the bolt 12 and project it into one of therecesses or notches 18 which are formed in the upper edge of the lockingsleeve 7 When this occurs the cap 9 and sleeve 7 will be securely lockedagainst relative rotatiom and consequently, the steering mechanism willbe rendered inoperative. In other words, the steering wheel will belocked to the stationary steering column and will be rendered useless.

In order to prevent the cap 9 from being slipped vertically off thesteering wheel shaft 1 when theparts are in their locked relationship, alug 18, Fig. 1, is riveted to the inner surface of the cap 9 near itslower edge where it will project under the lower edge of the sleeve 7 Avertical groove 19 is formed in the wall of this sleeve to admit the lugand permit the cap to he slipped upwardly and removed from the shaft 4,or to permit its movement in the opposite direction. This lug is sospaced, however, with reference to the bolt 12 that it is impossible toregister it with the groove 19 when the bolt is in any one of t erecesses or notches 18 in the sleeve '1?! Qeaseqaently, so long as theparts are locked the lug 18 arevents the removal of the cap 9, but whenthe parts are unlocked the cap can then be turned tobring the lug 18into registration with the groove 19, and the cap can then be removed.This is desirable in order to permit the removal of the top 6 for thepurpose of lubricating the gears contained in the housing or casing Itwill be understood, of course, that the hub of the steering wheel, whenin its operative position, bears on the top of the cap 9 and is held in.that position by the nut 5.

The method of using this locking mechanism will be obvious from what hasbeen said above. That is, the steering mechanism is used exactly as itwould be without the look so long as the parts remain unlocked. lVhenthe car to be left, however, the operator turns the key 17, thus lockingthe cap 9 and sleeve 7 together, as above described, and the partsremain in this condition until the operator returns to the car, insertshis key in the lock, and unlocks the mechanism. The sleeve 7, cap 9, setscrew 16, and the lug l'Svand its rivet, are all preferably made ofsteel and are hardened so that when the parts are assembled, as shown,it is impossible to drill, tile, or hacksaw them. Consequently, thismechanism effectually. prevents the operation of the steering mechanismexcept by a person provided with a key to lit the lock 15. Attention isalso called to the fact that the mechanism is very simple inconstruction and not only comprises few parts, but these parts are sodesigned that they can be manufactured very economically. Furthen more,the installation of this mechanism on a Ford car requires no toolswhatever except a screw driver. No cutting or drilling of any of theparts is required. The mechanism can, therefore, be installed veryquickly and by anyone who can handle a screw driver. The fact that thismechanism permits ready access to the gears contained in the housing 3is also an important practical advantage for the. reason that thesegears require lubrication, and it is sometimes necessary to makereplacement or repairs in this gear mechanism.

While I have herein shown and described the best embodiment of myinvention that I have so far devised, it will. be evident that theinvention may be embodied in other forms without departing from thespirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1.. In an automobile, the combination with a casing secured on the upperend of a steering column and a steering wheel shaft prQ ectmg above thetop of said casing, of

a sleeve fitting on said casing, means for.

securing said sleeve rigidly to said casing, a cap secured to said shaftand enclosing said sleeve, key operated means carried by said cap forlocking said cap and sleeve against relative rotation, and a lug carriedby said cap and cooperating with said sleeve to prevent the removal ofthe cap therefrom when the parts are locked, said sleeve having a groovetoadmit the lug and permit such removal when the parts are unlocked.

2. In an automobile, the combination with a casing secured on the upperend of a steering column and a steering wheel shaft projecting; abovethe top of said casing, of a sleeve fitting on said casing, means forsecuring said sleeve rigidly to said casing, a cap secured to said shaftand enclosing said sleeve, a bolt carried by said cap, the upper edge ofsaid sleeve being notched to icceive said bolt, a spring norn'iallyholding said bolt in a retracted position, and a key operated lock formoving said bolt in opposition to said spring, said lock con'iprising arevoluble barrel mounted in said cap.

3. In an automobile, the combination with a casing secured 011 the upperend of a steering column and a steering wheel shaft projecting above thetop of said casing, of a sleeve fitting on said casing, 21 series of setscrews for securing said sleeve to said casing, a cap keyed to saidshaft and snugly enclosing said sleeve and preventing access to saidscrews, a bolt slidably mounted in said cap, said sleeve having notchesin its upper end to receive said bolt, akey operated lock for operatingsaid bolt, and a lug secured to said cap and overlap 'iing the loweredge of said sleeve whereby it prevents the removalv of said cap fromsaid sleeve, said sleeve having a groove to rcceive said lngand permitsuch removal but being so located as to prevent the lug from enteringthe groove when the bolt is in any one of said notches.

l. In an automobile lock. the combination of a'sleeve adapted to besecured to a sla tionarv part of the steering mechanism, a cap adaptedto be secured to the steering wheel shaft, said cap enclosing saidsleeve, key operated means carried by said sleeve for locking said capand sleeve against relative rotation, and additional means independent;of said key operated means for p! cventing the separation of said capand, slccrr when they are locked, but permitting such separation whenthey are unlocked.

FREDERICK M. FURBER.

